Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 1:8

8 I saw by night , and behold a man riding upon a red horse , and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom : and behind him were there red horses , speckled and white .

In a Vision God communicates his Word, Mind, or Will to the Prophet.

Either litera[illegible: 1 letter]ly, it was by night that Zechariah had this Vision, or with this it may note the obscurity and misteriousness of the Vi[illegible: 2 letters]on, for it may be emblematical, as the Myrtles, and the bottom are.

Mark well what I saw, as now I relate it to you.

One in a humane shape, Christ Jesus in shape of a Man, so he appeared to Ezek. 1.26. and 40.3. and to Daniel, chap. 7.13.

In a posture of readiness, speed and resolution to help his people, and to appear for them in some tokens of greatness and majesty, Psal. 45.4.

Both the Beast is noted, Horse, bold, strong, speedy, and gallant; and the colour is noted also in the same colour he appeared to Isaiah, chap. 63. ver. 1, 2, 3. and Revel. 6.4. This colour is a symbol of his coming to avenge his own just quarrel, and the uniust dealings of his, and his peoples Enemies.

he posteth himself in a convenient place to observe and be ready, (as needful) among humble, verdant, fragrant, pleasant, and much valued Trees, emblem of the flourishing, fruitful, and excell[illegible: 1 letter]nt Saints, and Servants of God.

This bottom or low Valley in which the Myr[illegible: 1 letter]les grew, (proba[illegible: 1 letter]ly on some Rivers bank) is an emblem of the Church in a low, mourning, afflicted State, then 'tis most verdant, and fragrant [illegible: 1 word] these Trees; or as Spices bruised in a Mortar.

Christ was [illegible: 1 word] beseems a Captain, in the head, the rest as his Souldiers or Sevan[illegible: 1 letter]s are behind attending on him.

Horses of the same colour, not without their riders, though they are not exprest, but 'tis a Synechdoche, Horses, and Horse-men are both intended, and these are Angel[illegible: 1 letter], ver. 10. now the colour of these Horses is 1. Red, denoting probably the bloody condition of States and K[illegible: 1 letter]ngdoms by Wars one against another, either when God punisheth his Church, or when he avengeth himself, and his Church on his Enemies, and hers, which will appear on a survey of the times past, when Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Gr[illegible: 1 letter]cia[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ or Roman Empires, did successively by Wars do Gods w[illegible: 1 letter]rk, his strange work, &c. Isa. chap. 10. and chap. 14.

A mixt colour, made up partly of white, red and black, as some guess, an Emblem of Affairs of different complexion, not all prosperous, nor all unprosperous; not all dark, nor all light, as the day the Prophet describes neither day nor night, such times did the Iews know, during the 70 Prophetick weeks, from the beginning of them, to the Messiah's coming.

An Emblem of the best dayes and State the Church should be in, so Revel. 19.11.14. and the Empire too with it.

Marginal references: Josh. 5.13.; chap 6.1. to 7.; Or, bay.